From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Ongoing issues with pivot pins, spring shackles, and ignition contacts on Goshawk and 40/50 models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 46\2\ Scan148 | |
| Date | 11th April 1932 guessed | |
| contd:- -2- that these pivot pins are generally giving trouble in this respect and although we have pointed out that these have been a source of trouble, even on pre-war cars, Depots are insistent on the fact that this trouble is worse since the addition of this friction to the front pivots. Could this matter be given some attention. We want to make sure that the Goshawk is satisfactory in this respect, also the 40/50 and also what we can do retrospectively? The matter is in BY's hands, but probably you may be in a position to settle something in regard to this matter. The lubrication of this steering pin has been a general trouble. Apart from the plain thrust job, having the 'Enots' scheme has not entirely overcome it and we feel that some scheme whereby oil is forced or fed between the two wearing surfaces, which are nearly always in contact with each other, could be embodied to advantage. Is R.{Sir Henry Royce} in sympathy with the grooving scheme the same as has been embodied successfully on the shackle. Spring shackles. On 6-Goshawk-ll we have entirely protected the spring shackles with thick oil and have injected gear oil (Prices' amber) through the 'Enots' lubricator, until it actually forces its way out from the leather cover. On 7-Goshawk-ll on which we are also fixing leather covers, we propose to try filling up initially with grease and then giving a final dose of gear oil. In the latter scheme, we feel the grease will act as a good protective, whereas, the oil will be kept in position on the working surfaces. Has the question of grooving of the shackle bushes and spring bushes been approached and approved of in the same manner as applied to the 40/50 spring shackle in troublesome cases on which we have had to do something. We certainly feel that this grooving scheme has so far, been very successful. This, we feel, is especially necessary in cases of applying lubrication between two surfaces which are continually in contact. Life of make and break contacts. We have, for some considerable time, had trouble with these contact points on the 40/50 cars burning or wearing sufficiently bad to require replacing after only comparatively short running. We have in some cases attributed this to poor condenser connections but even although we did in one case fix an earthed connection to the condenser, the car continued to give trouble in this respect. Apart from the fact that the ignition fails due to these contacts giving out, the timing of the ignition in the meantime is considerably affected by the variation in the amount of gap caused between these contacts. Do you feel that with the experience you and Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} have now had with the running of the new Goshawks, that this is satisfactory for the Goshawk-ll cars? If you have any information which you would like to impart to EFC. or others hear, in connection with this job, we should be glad to receive it. I have discussed this matter with EFC. and he is rather inclined to think that there may be an improvement in this respect by using paper condensers, but I am not fully conversant with the experimental work which has been carried out in this respect cont | ||